In his first semester
at Appalachian State University, Howard R. Schreiber, originally
from Atlanta, not only dealt with classes but also became one of
the most active senators in Appalachian’s Student Government
Association (SGA).
At the end of last semester, Schreiber, one of the two senators
from East Residence Hall, was given the Senator of the Semester
Award for his efforts.
The SGA cabinet decides the recipient of the award.
“I think when choosing the award, we not only look for someone
who’s done the minimum but gone above and beyond what’s
required,” Director of External Affairs Alicia J. Walker said.
“We look for somebody who’s put their heart into the government,
that they truly care about it and have made it better.”
“[Schreiber] was so involved. He helped out with homecoming;
he’s always put his opinion forth,” Walker said. “What
really stuck out about him was that he was at every single one of
our events. He always came to everything, [whether] he was specifically
asked to or not; he brought materials and ideas; he lets people
know he’ll help out in anyway and he really means it.”
“I come in if I’ve got some time in between classes and
just say, ‘Hey, I’m here, do you guys need me to do anything?’
and whatever cabinet member or senator needs me to do something
for them I’ll do it,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber said his dedication is one of his main qualities.
“I think one of the reasons I got the award was because of
my work ethic internally within [SGA],” Schreiber said. “I
help out in a lot of different projects; I work with my constituents;
I get their advice and then I vote how they say in senate.
“There have been issues I haven’t personally agreed on,
but I voted the opposite way because that was how my constituents
felt,” he said.
While Schreiber has proposed no pieces of legislation, he has been
vocal on issues such as the proposed athletic fee increase, which
he strongly opposes.
“The other senator from East and I got together and held a
forum in the dorm and said ‘Here’s the issues we’re
facing in senate; how do you feel about this?’” Schreiber
said. “Then we voted and spoke based on those opinions.”
After SGA formally declared their opposition to the fee increase,
SGA President Ryan M. Eller appointed Schreiber to an ad-hoc committee
to research the issue.
“He played a key part in helping [Eller] with legislation and
information that went out to the Board of Trustees about the fee
increase,” said SGA Vice President Ezell P. Williams. “[Schreiber]
was key in finding a lot of things that were wrong with the fee
and met with administrators to discuss his findings.”
Politics have been an interest from an early age for Schreiber,
who participated in student government throughout high school as
well.
“I loved doing SGA throughout high school, had a lot of fun,
and I figured I’d go be a representative in college,”
Schreiber said. “I love to help people, and I think by representing
East I can help my constituents get something they want.”
Schreiber said his background played a part in his motivation.
“I’m Jewish; part of the Jewish custom is mitzvoth, and
one of the things that’s part of being mitzvoth is to help
people, and the way I’m helping people is getting involved
here in politics,” Schreiber said.
One of Schreiber’s main interests, photography, has played
a part in senate. He was made the senate’s photographer the
same night he received the award.
“Up until now they really haven’t had all this documentation
of things we’ve done over the years,” Schreiber said.
“Now, by adding this role, we’re able to have documentation
of all these events, and we can say ‘this is what we did.’”
In the future, Schreiber said he was researching several possible
pieces of legislation and preparing to serve on the elections committee,
which oversees the upcoming student presidential elections.
“I’ve been floating some ideas around in my head, talking
to some other people, still deciding where to go with them,”
Schreiber said. “I applied to be on the elections committee.
I value democracy, and I pride myself on being a non-partisan person.”
“[Schreiber] has always been a great guy. I’m very proud
of all our senators; he was just one of those that’s always
stood out to me,” Walker said. “He’s done a great
job. People trust in him; people believe in him.” |
